Will Rimell

When times are hard the temptation to take on work that is outside your capabilities and muddle-through can be overwhelming. The simple fact is that customers deserve better. Ability is close to the top of my list of must-haves for a garage. A simple analysis of job cards and invoices, together with shared anecdotes from technicians, quickly highlight shortfalls.

What is BEN? It’s your industry charity. What does BEN do? It offers care, support and welfare to the motor trade. Who is BEN for? You, your family, and your dependants. No less than 15,000 people are helped by BEN every year, but that figure is quickly dwarfed when Head of Marketing Ray Diggins explains the scope of BEN’s remit.

Parts Alliance Chairman Steve Fulford has expressed his 'disappointment' over the sale of Camberley Auto Factors to Andrew Page. Fulford founded PA in 1999, when he was also Managing Director of Allparts Automotive.

That's quite a reaction to the news that Andrew Page has bought Camberley Auto Factors.

The key member of the Parts Alliance was 'snapped up' today in a move which instantly gives Andrew Page a significant presence in the south.

One factor said: "They're coming, are they? Oh God, it's going to be a hell of a fight! It's a call to action I suppose, we'd better get ready."

I put 'snapped up' in inverted commas since deals like this aren't done on a whim, of course. It's tempting to think that the groundwork might have taken almost a year since Duncan Wilkes has also today been announced as Andrew Page's new non-executive Chairman. Wilkes' departure as the boss of the Halfords Nationwide Autocentre chain was signalled last August.

Andrew Page has bought key Parts Alliance member Camberley Auto Factors (CAF) for an undisclosed sum. The biggest member of The Parts Alliance, CAF’s 30 branches means Andrew Page now has a network of more than 90 sites.

Andrew Page has bought key Parts Alliance member Camberley Auto Factors (CAF) for an undisclosed sum. The biggest member of The Parts Alliance, CAF’s 30 branches means Andrew Page now has a network of more than 90 sites.

We've given away all of the 20 free tickets to September's Automechanika show now, but we can still help in getting you to the trade's biggest event. We've teamed up with show organisers Messe Frankfurt to bring you an exclusive travel package which can get you to the show in style. Read on to find out more.

Driving tests will be available from 21 Halfords sites from this autumn in a new partnership with the Driving Standards Agency, but 39 local Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency offices are to close.

Unipart Automotive has named a new CEO. Mark Dixon, formerly of Wyko and Eriks UK will join the company as CEO as of September. Dixon’s appointment will coincide with Unipart Automotive’s head office move to Bicester from its current location in Cowley.

Bosch has opened the gates on its Boxberg proving ground to racers taking part in the prestigious Formula Student competition. The supplier welcomed 21 race cars and more than 200 students to its Boxberg facility last week, altogether paying host to 35 teams from both the Formula Student Electric and Formula Student Combustion disciplines.